Billy Dukes

Granger Smith releases his ninth studio album next week (April 16) -- one he calls his most ambitious project to date. 'Dirt Road Driveway' features singles 'We Do It in a Field' and 'The Country Boy Song' in addition to 10 other tracks from the pen of the the Red Dirt singer-songwriter. Listen to the entire album early via this exclusive stream on Taste of Country.

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Lack of success in predicting the results of the 2013 ACM Awards can be attributed to tight competition... or maybe underestimating the strength and popularity of artists like Luke Bryan. Perhaps we're just making excuses for ourselves after a less-than-super success rate at Sunday's show. Taste of Country readers also made predictions, and it's time to see who fared better. 

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Luke Bryan's new song 'Crash My Party' would fit well on his last album 'Tailgates and Tanlines.' The ballad is a continuation of themes introduced with 'I Don't Want This Night to End' and 'Drunk on You,' two No. 1 hits for the ACM Entertainer of the Year. At first listen, it's difficult to become excited about a song that's so familiar. 

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It was another good night for Kellie Pickler and partner Derek Hough on 'Dancing With the Stars' on Monday night (April 9). The country singer did the Rumba to a song called 'Say I Do,' written and performed by husband Kyle Jacobs. One judge called the moment magical, while the others asked for more fluidity. 

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Scotty McCreery makes his songwriting debut on 'See You Tonight,' a mid-tempo love song that finds the 19-year-old not settling for a phone call or some distant "I love you" from the girl who holds his heart. It's the start of a new chapter for McCreery -- one that's much more important than his last. 

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In his new song 'I Want Crazy.' Hunter Hayes doesn't soar like Ronnie Dunn or croon like Chris Young. His vocal performance is an exercise in diction -- and memory. Simply put, he packs a ton of words into a tight space without straining or slurring one idea into another. It's not easy. 

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The last hour of voting during the finals of March Bandness was frenzied, to say the least. Thousands of fans of Alabama and the Charlie Daniels Band cast a ballot in the waning minutes. The boys from Fort Payne, Ala. were trailing until the end, when they surged ahead and took the title of Best Country Band of All Time. 

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Here's a strange fact about the Taste of Country Top 10 Video Countdown: Only videos from blonde singers have reached the No. 1 spot. Toby Keith kept the streak alive last week, as fans chose 'Hope on the Rocks' as the most popular clip of the week. Casey James and Carrie Underwood were close behind with their recent videos, but new offerings from the Band Perry and 'X Factor' winner Tate Stevens could challenge them for the title. 

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The 2013 ACM Awards are just days away, and while the country music industry is anxiously awaiting to see who wins the big awards, fans are looking forward to the performances, surprise collaborations and unexpected moments of brilliance. These potential moments could prove to be the ones fans are talking about come Monday. 

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Despite the accuracy (or lack of accuracy) of these predictions for the 2013 ACM Awards, one thing is certain: one group of country fans will be ecstatic come Monday morning, while another will be furious that their favorite wasn't recognized for his or her talent and achievements. Only one out of every group of five can take the trophy for Entertainer, Male Vocalist, Female Vocalist and the other top prizes. This means four more will be left politely applauding for someone the industry says had a little better year. Fans tend to not be as graceful in defeat. 

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